Pintle hook



Dec. 10, 1963 F. A. NOVOTNEY 3,113,684

PINTLE HOOK Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl6.i

FIZJANK' A. Nova-may INVEN TOR. v

b M Mam; flow l A gMEy Dec. 10, 1963 F. A. NOVOTNEY 3,113,684

PINTLE HOOK Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK A-NOVOTN EV by 16 W zzww 'f ATTOQNE'yg United States Patent 3,113,684PIN'ILE H0611 Frank A. Novotuey, Toniea, Ill, assignor to AnthonyQompany, Streator, Iii, a corporation of lliinois Fiied Apr. 25, 1952,der. No. 190,099 9 Claims. (1. 214-77) This invention relates to liftgate mechanisms for trucks and the like and more particularly relates toa pintle hook attachment for lift gate mechanisms transferring the loadsof towing from the lift gate mechanism to the frame of the truck.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and improvedform of pintle hook attachment for lift gate mechanisms so constructedand arranged as to transfer the loads of towing to the frame of thetruck when the left gate is in an upright closed position.

Another object of the invention is to improve upon towing attachmentsfor trucks and the like having lift gate mechanisms at the rear end ofthe truck body by so arranging the pintle hook attachment to come intoabutting engagement with the abutment members carried by the truckframe, as the lift gate platform is moved into an upright elevatingposition, and to transfer the towing loads from the lift gate mechanismto the truck frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pintle hookattachment for lift gate mechanisms including a cross member movablyconnected to the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platform andcarrying a pintle hook intermediate its ends, and having interengagementwith the truck frame at its ends when the lift gate platform is in anelevated vertical closed position, in which the cross member carryingthe pintle hook may move the pintle hook into position to clear theground as the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platform is moveddownwardly to position the lift gate on the ground in position to pickup a load.

Those and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary generally diagrammatic view of the rear endportion of the frame of a truck having a lift gate platform andelevating mechanism therefor mounted at the rear end of the truck bodyand showing a pintle hook attachment constructed in accordance with theinvention carried by the lift gate mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one end of the pintlehook attachment in abutting interengagement with the truck frame;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through thecross member supporting the pintle hook and showing the pintle hook inside elevation;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line IV-IV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the pintle hook in a retractedposition.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, FIGURE 1generally shows a lift gate platform 19 mounted at the back of a truckframe 11, with the lift gate platform in an upright closed position.

The lift gate platform is raised and lowered and supported in elevatedand lowered positions with respect to the truck frame by outer armmembers 12 and inner arm members 13. The arm members 13 may betelescopic to accommodate the lift gate platform to be moved to theclosed upright position shown in FIGURE 1 when the truck carrying thelift gate platform has been loaded or unloaded and is in conduition totravel to a new location.

A hydraulic cylinder and piston indicated at 15 is pivotally connectedbetween a support structure 16 for the arm members 12 and 13 andsupports and vertically moves the lift gate platform in a conventionalmanner.

The arm members 12 and 13 form in effect a parallelogram linkagearrangement for raising and lowering the lift gate plaform 10 in aplurality of parallel planes. The outer arm members 12 are pivotallyconnected to the lift gate platform between brackets 18 on pivot pins19. The inner arm members 13 are pivotally connected to the lift gateplatform between bracket members 20 on pivot pins 22.

The forward or inner ends of the arm members 12 are transverselypivotally mounted on the support frame structure 17 between spacedbrackets 23. The arm members 13 likewise are transversely pivotallymounted at their inner or forward ends between spaced brackets 24.

The hydraulic cylinder and piston 15 is pivotally connected at one endto the support frame structure 17 in a conventional manner and isconnected at its opposite ends to a cross head 25 trunnioned on parallelspaced arms 26 spaced inwardly of the arm members 13 and connected attheir forward or inner ends to a cross member 27 conmeeting the armmembers 13 together, and at their rear or outer ends to a cross member28, connecting the outer or rear end portions of the arm members 13together.

The pintle hook attachment is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 as comprising across member 29 secured to the arms 13 and projecting laterally beyondsaid arms for interengagement at its ends with side frame members orbeams 30, extending for substantially the length of the truck frame 11,and forming a part of said frame. The cross member 29, as shown inFIGURES 2 and 3 comprises a central block 31 having axially alignedtubes or bars 33 mounted therein and extending from opposite sidesthereof and welded or otherwise secured to said block. The block 31 isdrilled perpendicularly to the axis of the tubes 33 and longitudinallyof the truck frame, to form an aperture or a hole 34 to receive a boltportion 35 of a pintle hook 36. A nut 37 threaded on said bolt portionserves to draw a flanged or shouldered portion 359 of the pintle hook 36into tight engagement with the rear face of the block 31.

The pintle hook 36 may be of a well known form and has a hook portion 41extending rearwardly of the flanged portion 39 thereof and opening in anupward direction to receive a clevis or hook (not shown) on the end of atow rope or the like. A dog 43 is provided to close the upwardly openinghook portion 41 of the pintle hook and to engage an inner recess 44 ofsaid hook portion to retain a clevis or hook (not shown) to the pintlehook. As shown in FIGURE 3, the dog 43 is transversely pivoted to anupwardly extending boss portion 45 extending rearwardly and upwardlyfrom the body portion of the pintle hook forming the flange 39. The dog43 extends along opposite sides of the boss 45 and is pivotally mountedthereon on a transverse pivot pin 46 shown as being in the form of a nutand bolt. The dog 43 has a locking pin 49 slidably mounted therein andmovable into position to engage beneath the boss 45 to retain the dog 43in a closed position.

The cross member 29 is rotatably mounted on the arm members 13 and 26 onhangers 50 extending along the insides of the arms 26 and outwardlytherefrom and welded or otherwise secured to said arms. The bars 33 ofthe cross member 29 extending from opposite sides of the block 31pivotally extend through the hangers 50 and through generally U-shapedsupports 51 welded at the ends of the legs of said supports on the armmembers 13. The legs of the supports 51 are through drilled parallel tothe longitudinal axes of the arms 13 in axial alignment with each other,as are the tubes 33, to accommodate a locking pin 52 to pass throughsaid legs and the tube 33, to retain the cross member 29 and block 31 inposition to support the pintle hook 36 in position to retain a clevis orhook attached thereto. The tubes 33 also have locking plates 53extending generally radially therefrom along the insides of the supports51, movable into position to register with locking plates 55 extendingfrom a leg of the associated support 51. The locking plates 53 and 55are apertured to accommodate the pins 52 to pass therethrough and lockthe cross member 29 and pintle hook 36 in the retracted position shownin FIGURE 5, to clear the ground as the lift gate platform is loweredinto engagement with the ground.

The abutment means mounted on beams of the truck frame 11 is shown inFIGURE 2 as comprising a keeper member 57 mounted between the web of thebeam 30 and the vertical leg of a reinforcing angle 59 extending alongsaid beam and opening downwardly to be engaged by an associated end ofthe cross member 29. A lower flange 60 of the beam 30 is cut away asindicated by reference character 61. The vertical leg of the reinforcingangle is also cut away to accommodate an associated end of the crossmember 29 to move upwardly along the beams 30 and angles 59 intoengagement with the keep member 57, as the lift gate platform is movedinto a vertical closed position.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the keeper member 57 has spaced inclined legs 63and 64 extending along the margins of the cut away portions 61 of theflange 66. The leg 63 extends at substantially the line of travel of theassociated end portion of the cross member 29 to be engaged, by said endportion of said cross member and to guide said cross member to engagewithin a bight portion 65 of the keeper member 57, as the lift gateplatform is moved to a vertical closed position, and to thereby assurethat the towing loads are taken on the strike memhere 57 and the beams30 of the truck frame and are relieved from the arm members l3, l3 and26, 26. As the lift gate platform is moved to a horizontal position froma vertical closed position and is lowered towards the ground, the crossmember 29 will move along the legs 63 of the keeper members 57 free fromthe beams 36] of the frame 11.

It may be seen from the foregoing that I have provided and improved formof pintle hook attachment for a vehicle having a lift gate platformpermanently attached to the rear end portion thereof, for loading andunloading the vehicle, that the pintle hook attachment is mounted on theelevating mechanism for the lift gate platform, and that the loads oftowing are transferred from the elevating mechanism to the truck frame,as the platform is moved to an elevated and vertical position, and thatthe pintle hook is always in a towing position as the lift gate platformis moved to its closed position.

It may further be seen that the location of the pintle hook attachmentwith respect to the arms 13 is such that the angle of the block 31 andpintle hook 36 varies very little during raising and lowering of thelift gate platform making it possible to utilize the pintle hookattachment for varying heights of truck floors. It may still further beseen that the pintle hook attachment may readily be rotated and lockedin an inoperative position, to clear the ground, when the lift gate islowered to ground position.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the inventionmay be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variationsand modifications in the invention may be attained without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof, as defined bythe claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gates and in combination with avehicle frame having parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating means for raising and lowering said lift gate platform in aplurality of parallel planes and for f4 1 moving said platform into anupright closed position including at least two laterally spacedangularly movable arms,

a cross member carried by at least one of said arms and projectinglaterally from said arms,

abutment means carried by said side frame members comprising downwardlyopening keeper members generally conforming to the projecting endportions of said cross member and engaged thereby upon movement of saidlift gate platform into an upright closed position and transferring theloads of towing from said arms to said side frame members of said truck.

2. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gates and in combination with avehicle frame having parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating means for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs ofparallel arms pivotally connected to the vehicle frame and havingpivotal supporting connection with the lift gate platform,

for vertically moving the lift gate platform in a plurality of parallelplanes and into an upright closed position,

a cross member intermediate the ends of said arms,

means pivotally mounting said cross member on the inner arms of saidpairs of parallel arms,

a pintle hook carried by said cross member,

abutment means on said side frame members engaged by said cross memberas said arms move said lift gate platform into an upright closedposition,

and means connected between said cross member and at least one of saidarms for holding said pintle hook attachment in an upright towingposition and locking said pintle hook attachment in a retracted positionfree from the ground, when said lift gate platform is lowered intoengagement with the ground.

3. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gate platforms and incombination with a vehicle frame having parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

a plurality of pairs of arm members pivotally connected to the truckframe and having pivotal supporting connection with the lift gateplatform,

and operable to move said lift gate platform vertically in a pluralityof parallel planes and into an upright closed position,

a cross member intermediate the ends of said arms and projecting beyondthe inner of said arms,

means pivotally mounting said cross member on the inner of said arms,

a pintle hook carried by said cross member, means for locking said crossmember into position to hold said pintle hook in a towing position andinto a retracted position with respect to said arms free from the groundupon lowering movement of said lift gate platform into engagement withthe ground,

abutment means on said side frame members comprising downwardly openingkeeper members having a bight portion adapted to be engaged by the endsof said cross frame member upon movement of said arms to position saidlift gate platform into an upright closed position.

4. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform at the rear of said frame,

a plurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to said truckframe and having supporting elevating connection with said lift gateplatform for moving said lift gate platform vertically,

the improvements comprising towing means carried by said arms andmovable into abutting engagement with said side frame members, said sideframe members having abutment means comprising downwardly opening keepermembers generally conforming to projecting end portions of said towingmeans and engaged thereby upon movement of said lift gate platform intoan upright closed position and transferring the loads of towing fromsaid towing means to said side frame members of said frame.

7. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating mechanism for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs ofparallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having pivotalsupporting connection with said lift gate platform for 5. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform, 10

elevating mechanism for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs ofparallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having pivotalsupengagement with said side frame members upon porting connection withsaid lift gate platform for movement of said lift gate platform into anupraising and lowering said lift gate platform in a right closedposition, plurality of parallel planes and for moving said a crossmember carried by the inner of said arms for platform into an uprightclosed position, pivotal movement with respect thereto about an theimprovements comprising towing means for said axis extendingtransversely of said arms and protruck carried by said arms and movableinto interjecting laterally beyond said arms, engagement with said sideframe members upon a pintle hook carried by said cross member, movementof said lift gate platform into an upabutment means on said side framemember in registry right closed position including a cross membercarwith the ends of said cross member and engaged ried by the inner ofsaid arms and projecting laterby said cross member and taking the loadsof towing, ally beyond said arms, upon movement of said lift gateplatform into an a pintle hook carried by said cross member, uprightclosed position,

and abutment means on said side frame members in and selectivelyoperable locking means connected beregistry with the ends of said armsand engaged tween said cross member and at least one of said therebyupon movement of said lift gate platform arms for locking said crossmember and pintle hook into an upright closed position, said abutmentmeans in an operative towing position and in an inoperacomprisingdownwardly opening keeper members tive retracted position. generallyconforming with the ends of said arms, 8. A pintle hook attachment forlift gate platforms thereby transferring the loads of towing from saidfor trucks and the like having elevating mechanism for arms to the saidside members of said frame. raising and lowering the lift gate platformin a plurality 6. In a truck, of parallel planes,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members, comprising a crossmember adapted to be mounted a lift gate platform, on the elevatingmechanism for the lift gate platelevating mechanism for said platformcomprising a form,

raising and lowering said lift gate platform in a plurality of parallelplanes and for moving said platform into an upright closed position,

the improvements comprising towing means for said truck carried by saidarms and movable into interplurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotallyconnected to said truck frame and having pivotal supengagement with saidside frame members upon movement of said lift gate platform into anupright closed position,

a cross member carried by the inner of said arms for the ends of saidcross member.

abutment members on the truck frame comprising downwardly opening keepermembers generally conporting connection with said lift gate platform forforming to the end portions of said cross member raising and loweringsaid lift gate platform in a pluand adapted to be engaged by said crossmember rality of parallel planes and for moving said platupon verticalmovement thereof as the lift gate form into an upright closed position,platform is moved into an upright closed position, the improvementscomprising towing means for said and a pintle hook mounted on said crossmember.

truck carried by said arms and movable into inter- 9. A pintle hookattachment for lift gate platforms for trucks and the like havingelevating mechanism for raising and lowering the lift gate platform in aplurality of parallel planes,

comprising a cross member,

pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis a pintle hookcarried by said cross member, extending transversely of said arms andprojecting hangers pivotally supporting said cross member and laterallybeyond said arms, adapted to be secured to the lift gate elevating apintle hook carried by said cross member, mechanism, abutment means onsaid side frame member in registry keeper members adapted to be mountedon a truck with the ends of said cross member and engaged frame to beengaged by the ends of said cross by said cross member and taking theloads of towmember, ing, upon movement of said lift gate platform intoand means connected between said cross member and an upright closedposition, said abutment means on said lift gate elevating mechanism andselectively said side frame members comprising downwardly operable tolock said cross member and pintle hook opening keeper members generallyconforming to into an operative towing position and in a retractedinactive position.

No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,113,684 December 10, 1963 Frank A, Novotney It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

column 1, line 17, for "left" read tail lines 8, l0, 11, 15, 19, 23, 25,27, 29, 31, 35, 36, 44, 47, 59, 60, 62, 67 and 69, column 2, lines 2, 5,6 and 8, column 3, lines 10, 23, 32, 37, 44, 47, 51, 56, 61, 70, 73 and74, column 4, lines l0, 14, 17, 21, 22, 30, 36, 39, 42, 45, 46, 57, 63,68, 71 and 72, column 5, lines 4, 10, 14, 15, 21, 28, 36, 40, 41, 47 and57, and column 6, lines 3, 7, 8, 14, 24, 31, 33, 36, 42, 45, 47, 52 and58, for "lift", each occurrence, read tail Signed and sealed this 23rdday of June 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A PINTLE HOOK ATTACHMENT FOR LIFT GATES AND IN COMBINATION WITH AVEHICLE FRAME HAVING PARALLEL SPACED SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A LIFT GATEPLATFORM, ELEVATING MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID LIFT GATEPLATFORM IN A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL PLANES AND FOR MOVING SAID PLATFORMINTO AN UPRIGHT CLOSED POSITION INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO LATERALLY SPACEDANGULARLY MOVABLE ARMS, A CROSS MEMBER CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAIDARMS AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID ARMS, ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BYSAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY OPENING KEEPER MEMBERSGENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF SAID CROSS MEMBERAND ENGAGED THEREBY UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LIFT GATE PLATFORM INTO ANUPRIGHT CLOSED POSITION AND TRANSFERRING THE LOADS OF TOWING FROM SAIDARMS TO SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS OF SAID TRUCK.